Washing machine



March 17, 1931.

A. c. LYONS WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 16. 1929 Patented Mar. 17, 1931ARTHUR CALDER LYONS, OF BRANTFORD, ONTARIO, CANADA WASHING MACHINEApplication filed October 16, 1929. Serial No. 400,074.

My invention relates to power washing machines, and has for itsessential object an improvement in the agitator, or means for swirlingthe water and the contents of the tub, with alternating backward andforward action, with suificient force to whip the dirt out of thefabric.

Where garments of different textures are being washed, different forcesare required, coarser and dirtier fabrics requiring a greater force thanthe more delicate. with this object in view I have devised an agitatorprovided with one or more adjustable fins or blades, whereby the finsmay be diminished or extended to reduce or increase the swirl and waterpressure, accordingly with delicate or coarser fabrics, respectively,Without in any manner requiring to change the speed of the powertransmission, and motive means for actuating the agitator.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a sectional elevational view ofa standard washing machine showing the agitator;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the agitator removed;

Figure 3 is a top plan View of the agitator, and

Figure 4 is a sectional view through theagitator, on lines a-a Figure 2.

Likeletters of reference refer to like parts throughout the drawings.

A designates the tub, mounted upon a suit able stand B, the standconsisting of supporting legs and the transmission C.

- Extending vertically up into the center of the tub A, is a. shaft D,connected with and forming a part of the power transmission C, to whichthe agitator E is detachably secured, and from which it derives itsfunctioning motion, that is an alternating backward and forwardrotation, to swirl the water and contents of the tub with suflicientforce to whip the dirt out of the fabrics.

The agitator sets over the shaft D, and is It isdetachably securedthereto, by any suitable method. For all practical and illustrativepurposes, I have shown the end of the shaft squared off, and seated in asquare socket formed in the inner upper end of the sleeve portion of theagitator.

The agitator E may be formed in various designs, and arrangementssuitable for different types of machines, it embodies in construction acenter sleeve F, formed with and extending upwardly from a base plate G.

Formed with the base and the sleeve are a series of fins H, to batteragainst the water with the rotation of the agitator.

The fins H may be of any plurality, and may be formed in various shapes.

Formed in the edge of the fins H, is a recess I, in which is pivotallyfitted an extension blade J, adapted to be adjusted inwardly andoutwardly to reduce or increase the area of the fins H, for respectivelyreducmg or increasing the pressure on the contents of the tub with therotation of the agitator.

For setting the blades I in various adjustments with the fins H, I haveshown a spring snap K, adapted to engage with an indent L formed in theadjacent face of the blade, but various methods of pivotally connectingthe blade with the fin, and means for setting it in adjusted relationmay be adopted without varyingf'rom the nature of my invention.

The formation of the fins and the shapeof the blades may ,be of variousdesigns, the essential object being to construct the agitator with meansfor increasing or reducing the area of the fins, and with means forretaining the adjustments.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In awashing machine, a rotatable agitator having a plurality of fins formedin radial relation therewith, extension blades arranged in pivotaladjustable relation with said fins.

2. In a washing machine, a rotatable agitator having 'fins formed inradiaT-rela'tion therewith, a recess formed in said fins, an extensionblade pivotally secured in adjustable relation in said recess.

3. In a Washing machine, a rotatable agitator having fins formed inradial relation therewith, a recess formed in the edge of said fins, anextension blade pivotally secured in said recess, said blades adapted tobe adjusted in and out of said recess for diminishing or increasing thearea of said fins.

Signed at Brantford, county of Brant, this 4th day of: October, 1929.

ARTHUR C. LYONS.

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